Woman mugged for Christmas presents outside Roseville grocery store

ROSEVILLE, CA - A woman was assaulted by a real-life Grinch while doing some holiday shopping on Sunday.

Roseville Police Sergeant Karl Dyer said the woman was parked in the parking lot of the Bel Air on Cirby Way and Sunrise Ave. around 7 p.m. when a man in a sweatshirt approached her vehicle, opened the passenger door and grabbed three JC Penney shopping bags from her front seat.

When the woman confronted the man, he punched her in the face and fled on foot with the bags, said Dyer.

The woman did not need medical assistance.

The alleged thief was described as a white man in a hoodie.

Anyone with information on this incident was encouraged to contact the Roseville Police Department at 774-5000.

Dyer said thieves are "casing cars in parking lots," and urged people to keep their purchases out of view. He also suggested people do not confront individuals such as this.